MUSIC FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND TO ATTRACT 50 SCHOOLS

Students from as many as 50 high schools will participate in the Southeast Missouri Music Festival to be held at Southeast Missouri State University this weekend.

"Thousands of students will perform during the weekend, starting Thursday at 5 p.m. at Academic Auditorium," said Bonnie Wanick, a teacher at Perryville High School and coordinator of the music festival. "Band performances will be open to the public."

More than 30 schools will provide bands for the competition. Individual participants will compete from another 20 schools.

Performances will be conducted at Academic Auditorium and the University Center Ballroom from 5 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. today; 8 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Friday; and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Seven schools will participate in the contest tonight, starting at 5 p.m. at Academic with the Sikeston High School Orchestra. Dexter will open activities in the Ballroom at 5:25 p.m.

Cape Central bands will appear in three performances in the Ballroom tonight, with Central Band No. 1 at 7:05 p.m., Central Band No. 2 at 7:55 p.m., and Central Orchestra at 8:45 p.m..

The Jackson band will perform at 8:20 p.m. in Academic.

The three-day schedule:

Today:

Academic Auditorium: 5 p.m., Sikeston Orchestra; 5:50 p.m., Sikeston Band No. 2; 6:40 p.m., Neelyville; 7:30 p.m., Charleston; and 8:20 p.m., Jackson.

Ballroom: 5:25 p.m., Dexter; 6:15 p.m., Fredericktown; 7:05 p.m., Cape Central Band No. 1; 7:55 p.m., Central Band No. 2; and 8:45 p.m., Central Orchestra.

Friday:

Academic Auditorium: 8 a.m., Greenville, 8:56 a.m., Puxico; 9:52 a.m., Scott City; 10:48 a.m., East Carter; 11:44 a.m., Chaffee; and 1:43 p.m., Twin Rivers.

Ballroom: 8:28 a.m., St. Vincents; 9:24 a.m., Clearwater; 10:20 a.m., Woodland; 11:16 a.m., Poplar Bluff No. 1; and 1:15 p.m., Poplar Bluff No. 2.

Saturday:

Academic Auditorium: 8 a.m., Perryville; 8:56 a.m., Oak Ridge; 9:52 a.m., North Pemiscot; 10:48 a.m., East Prairie; 1:01 p.m., Doniphan; 1:57 p.m., Gideon; and 2:53 p.m., South Iron.

Ballroom: 8:28 a.m., Richland; 9:24 a.m., Arcadia Valley; 10:20 a.m., Oran; 11:16 a.m., Malden; 1:15 p.m., Delta; and 2:39 p.m., Advance.